The Hollywood star is recognised for her campaign against sexual violence in war. Maggie Smith, Damian Lewis, Daniel Day Lewis, John Barrowman and Cerys Matthews are also among those honoured

Angelina Jolie will be made an honorary dame after being named in the Queen’s birthday honours list.

The Oscar-winning actress and United Nations special envoy is recognised for her work on tackling sexual violence in war.

Jolie, 39, is co-founder with foreign secretary William Hague of the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI) and has been in London this week chairing a summit with Hague on war rape.

She becomes a dame commander of the order of St Michael and St George for services to UK foreign policy and the campaign to end war zone sexual violence after being nominated in the diplomatic service and overseas birthday 2014 honours by the foreign office.

Jolie, who has hinted recently that she could be about to retire from acting, said "To receive an honour related to foreign policy means a great deal to me as it is what I wish to dedicate my working life to. Working on PSVI and with survivors of rape is an honour in itself. I know that succeeding in our goals will take a lifetime and I am dedicated to it for all of mine."

Jolie is among a number of stars from the world of entertainment to be honoured.

Three times Oscar-winning actor Daniel Day Lewis, 57, said he was "entirely amazed and utterly delighted in equal measure" at the news that he will be made a knight, while 79-year-old Downton Abbey star Maggie Smith, already a dame, becomes a companion of honour for services to drama.

Homeland’s Damian Lewis is awarded an OBE, saying "I decided to do the very un-British thing of accepting the compliment". The actor is currently filming a BBC adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s historical novel Wolf Hall in which he plays Henry VIII, and twice Booker Prize winner Mantel is herself upgraded from CBE to dame.

Torchwood, Doctor Who and West End star John Barrowman, 47, joins former Catatonia frontwoman and 6 Music radio presenter Cerys Matthews, 45, in picking up an MBE.

Another notable recipient, meanwhile, is Stephen Sutton, awarded a posthumous MBE. The 19 year old became a household name earlier this year when his blog, Stephen's Story, helped raise over £4 million to fight cancer before the disease claimed his life in May.

The Queen's official birthday will be celebrated today with the Trooping of the Colour, showing on BBC1 from 10:30am.